Welcome to the daily rumor roundup of Sportskeeda where we do our best to bring to you the top 5 buzzworthy rumors of the day. And we have some great stories in store for you today!
With the biggest party of the summer - SummerSlam - right around the corner, the wrestling world is filled with speculations regarding the show. So without further ado, let's look at the 5 biggest rumors in WWE of today that you should be aware of:
#5 New plans for Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns
There were reports earlier which stated that Bryan would be revealed as the attacker targeting Roman Reigns over the past few weeks. This would lead to a match between the two at the biggest party of the summer.
However, the latest plans seem to indicate that Daniel Bryan will not be competing at SummerSlam this year. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer stated that while Reigns and Bryan may continue their ongoing angle at SummerSlam, they will not be facing each other.
Daniel Bryan's career-changing announcement has been scrapped. They are not going to wrestle. But some angle may happen. That's been scrapped (Daniel Bryan's career-changing announcement). However, they are going to do the reveal for this thing which they are almost at. I can't imagine them doing SummerSlam and not having Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan on the show at all.
They are not going to wrestle but they may do the reveal or something like that on the show or something. Some angle. Obviously, they are going to continue the angle that will lead to something on the following PPV. That angel was going, I guess they lost their timing on it and now it's not ready for the PPV.
(Thanks to Lennard Surrao of Sportskeeda.com for the transcript)
#4 No plans for the Women's Tag Team Championships
When WWE introduced the Women's Tag Team Championships, a lot of us were sceptical about how the titles may be utilized. However, during the initial phase when the Championships were up for grabs inside the Elimination Chamber followed by a big 4-team match at Wrestlemania, it looked like WWE has major plans for the new belts.
However, ever since The IIconics won the Championships at WrestleMania, the belts were hardly ever utilized. While WONreported that there would be a fatal 4-way match for the Championships taking place at SummerSlam, the match surprisingly took place on RAW this week and saw Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross come out victorious.
Sportskeeda's own Tom Colohue has revealed the reason behind this Championship not getting due attention by the WWE. Here is what Colohue's source stated:
“Vince didn’t want women’s tag titles. He was under a lot of pressure so he brought them in early without thinking much about it. There was no plan. We still don’t know if there’s any plan.”
#3 Reason behind Aleister Black vs Sami Zayn being removed from SummerSlam
One of the matches that WWE had already advertised for SummerSlam included Aleister Black taking on Sami Zayn. However, as they say, everything is subject to change in WWE until the last moment.
Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened with Zayn and Black, who will now no longer be a part of SummerSlam this year. Dave Meltzer explained on WOR why WWE had this sudden change of plans:
So the deal with Aleister Black and Sami Zayn was when Vince showed up and didn't like SmackDown. He tore the whole show apart. When he was done with the stuff he didn't like and then changing the main event, they had an hour to fill. And so one of the ideas for that hour was, well, what can we do in this hour? Let's put Aleister Black's match with Sami Zayn on. So, that was one of the things they did to fill the hole. They took that off the PPV and that's the reason that's off the PPV."
(H/T: Sportskeeda.com)
#2 Why WWE want Dolph Ziggler to face Goldberg at SummerSlam
It has been a rollercoaster ride when it comes to the speculation regarding Dolph Ziggler's match at SummerSlam this year. While initial rumors stated that he would, indeed, be facing a returning Goldberg at the show, WWE threw in a curveball by allowing fans to believe that Ziggler might be facing Shawn Michaels or The Miz at the show.
However, last week on RAW, Goldberg returned and the match between The Showoff and Goldberg was made official. Sportskeeda's Tom Colohue sheds some light on the backstage reason why WWE wanted Dolph Ziggler to be the one to face Goldberg at SummerSlam.
Here is what his source had to say:
For his experience. Everyone looks good wrestling with Dolph. WWE loves Dolph. There’s nothing he can’t do.
Another source added:
You remember the Jackhammer? I do. We all do. Dolph’s safe and he doesn’t weigh too much, really.”
#1 Fresh matches could still be added to SummerSlam
The SummerSlam card has 10 matches that have been officially announced, and as per WOR, they will not be changed now. However, there is still a chance that one or two matches may be added to the card.
WrestleVotes had revealed that there are plans backstage for a possible Roman Reigns vs Buddy Murphy match to be added to the card. Apart from that, Dave Meltzer has stated that Drew McIntyre vs Cedric Alexander is also being planned for the show but hasn't been announced as of yet:
I don't expect, out of the ten, they will take any away but Drew McIntyre and Cedric Alexander, as far as I know, is still on the card but not announced, but who knows. I think Nakamura/Ali is a no. Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan is a no. I mean they are pretty adamant about that right now.
(H/T: Sportskeeda.com)